Precious Kashmir

Mutton Crisis: No end to Stalemate

Jammu & Kashmir

24/02/2021

Retail dealers demand amicable solution

Srinagar: Even as impasse over mutton rates continues between the government and wholesale dealers, retail dealers on Tuesday staged a protest urging authorities to find an amicable solution to the problem so that the mutton crisis ends in the Valley.

The retail dealers who gathered at Press Colony to register their protest against the continuous stalemate between the two sides over the mutton rates said their families are on the verge of starvation as their shops are closed for the last four months.

They appealed the government to end the four month long impasse and find an amicable solution to the problems which they said has caused immense hardships for them.

“We appeal the authorities to find an amicable solution to the problem. The stalemate over mutton rates has not only affected common masses but retail industry too has taken a hit,” said Mohammad Saleem, a protester.

He said their shops have been closed ever since the government announced fresh rates for mutton which led to the stalemate between wholesale mutton dealers and the authorities concerned.

“Our shops are closed for the last four months as the two sides have yet to come to some conclusion over mutton rates. We are poor people who cannot afford to sit at home. How long we suffer, we appeal Lieutenant Governor to personally look into the issue so that four months long impasse comes to an end,” he added—(KNO)

NC slams outsourcing of J&K Bank facility management services

Jammu & Kashmir

Precious Kashmir

24/02/2021

Srinagar: National Conference (NC) on Tuesday expressed dismay over outsourcing facility management of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank across both Jammu and the Kashmir regions.

“It is making rounds in the local news outlets that a Haryana based firm has secured the contract for the facility management of the Jammu and Kashmir bank, the measure has come at the cost of snatching employment avenues to local youth,” said Party Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar in a statement.

While taking exception to the outsourcing for JK Bank facilities, he said, “It would have been much better if J&K Bank would have preferred locals for the job. This measure would have ensured jobs to local unemployed youth. Unfortunately, outsourcing has snatched a potential source of employment from our youth.”

“The issue should not be seen in isolation, it is part of the new normal. Earlier the sand extraction contract for river Jhelum had also gone to a non local rendering hundreds involved in the process jobless. There are certain issues which GoI needs to seriously look into; outsourcing, unrestrained privatization being some of them. The over centralization in Jammu and Kashmir is “pushing one size for all” kind of measures with little consideration for people’s aspirations and issues. We in our party denounce any such inconsiderate measures that infringe on the prospective job avenues for local youth,” he said.

He said the bank which has long been emblematic of J&K’s stride in the financial sector has unfortunately been put on the path of disconnect and disownment.

KU to reopen for other semesters in staggered manner

City

Precious Kashmir

24/02/2021

4th semester, other end-semester exams to be conducted in offline mode

Srinagar: The University of Kashmir on Tuesday decided to hold the fourth semester and other end-semester examinations in offline mode and throw open the varsity for offline teaching of other semesters in a staggered manner in line with the necessary SOPs related to Covid-19.

The decisions to this effect were taken at a meeting of a high-level committee chaired by Dean of Academic Affairs Prof Shabir Ahmad Bhat.

Consequent upon deliberations during the meeting, which was attended by top varsity academics and officers, Prof Bhat said a notification has been issued by his office detailing out the plan for conduct of various examinations.

“The examination of the fourth semester and other end-semester examinations shall be conducted physically/offline as per the schedule/academic calendar including GE/OE courses and shall be facilitated hostel accommodation to the deserving students as per UGC norms/guidelines,” the notification reads. “However, the examination of third semester courses, including GE/OE courses, shall be conducted online.”

“All other examinations started either in offline/online mode shall remain unaffected,” the notification reads, adding that other semesters for the offline teaching mode shall be opened in a staggered way as notified earlier and the decision to this effect shall be taken subsequently in the same committee.

The notification has been sent to all heads/directors/coordinators at the main and satellite campuses for compliance.

Prof Bhat said the already-notified standard operating procedures (SOPs)/guidelines shall be followed in letter and spirit by all concerned.

“All these decisions have been taken in the interest of the student community after thorough deliberations,” he said, adding that the university is committed to make its students comfortable in the backdrop of the challenges and concerns posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside maintaining the sanctity of academics and examinations without any compromise.

PM Modi gives mantra of Self 3 in his IIT Kharagpur convocation address

National

United News Of India

24/02/2021

New Delhi: Giving a mantra of Self 3 – self-awareness, self-confidence and selflessness as the key to success in life to the passing out Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur graduates, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that now IITs have to be taken to next level as aspiration of 21st century India has changed.

Addressing the 66th annual convocation of IIT Kharagpur via video conferencing, the PM said “Students, who have got degrees today, will not only have to start a new life but also act as the start up to change the lives of thousands of people of this country. The medals and awards given to the pass outs are the charter of demands of the people of this country which they have to fulfill”.

Noting that the engineers have the ability to take things from pattern to patent, Mr Modi further said there was no shortcut in the way of science, technology and innovation. Even if someone does not succeed, they will learn something new as failure is the pillar of success, he added.

Talking about the challenges of climate change, he said at a time when the world has been struggling with the challenges with these, India has come up with the idea of International Solar Alliance (ISA) and embodied it. He said today India is one of those countries where the cost of solar power is very low per unit. But there are still many challenges to deliver solar power from door to door. He added India needs technology that minimizes damage to the environment, is durable and user friendly.

Keeping in view the safety measures during the post pandemic situation, this year the Convocation is being organized in virtual mode and 75 students including nine Institute Gold medal winners and sixty six Institute Silver medal winners were awarded in person while more than two thousand and eight hundred students were awarded degrees in online mode.

The Institute also conferred DSc, IIT Kharagpur Life Fellow Award and distinguished Alumnus Award to 27 achievers for their contribution to academics and research, social service and public welfare.

Delhi AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria, Dr E Sreedharan, former Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Swami Atmapriyananda Maharaj, Former Vice-Chancellor, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, were among the dignitaries felicitated today.

Mistrust In Vaccine

Edit

Precious Kashmir

23/02/2021

Mistrust and hesitancy in covid-19 vaccines has arisen ever since its roll-out on January 16. India started Phase-I of what may be the world’s largest vaccination drive hitherto.

So far, more than 1.07 crore vaccine doses have been administered to healthcare professionals and frontline medical workers across India. However, earlier this month, a doctors’ body came with figures that more than 80 percent of the healthcare workers in Kashmir Valley have turned down the vaccine.

It said out of 7,000 healthcare workers at Government Medical College Srinagar and its associated hospitals, only 1,167 (16.67 percent) have received the vaccine as on February 10. 5, 833 workers (83.33 percent) opted out. The doctors’ body time and again reiterated that the vaccine was safe and people should not hesitate in taking it.

A study published in Lancet says that Covid-19 vaccine provides the sterilizing immunity that prevents the inoculated person from being able to infect others. The study showed that a single dose of the vaccine significantly reduced the transmission of the virus with 67 percent reduction in positive swabs among those vaccinated.

This new finding is considered significant because it will enable lifting of the social distancing measures and lockdowns more rapidly than would otherwise be the case.

While trust in vaccine is important, scientists and health experts have been continuously warning that there is no room for complacency to reduce the guard against the virus as unpredictable as covid-19. They have underscored the real possibility of resurgence and of new strains of the virus emerging in other countries reaching India.

Currently, three Covid-19 variants – South African variant, Brazilian variant and UK variant are circulating in the human populations which appear to spread more swiftly than the original strain.

The steady dip in number of fresh cases in India while the pestilence was rising and raging in several other countries also encouraged the notion that the country was somehow immune to the trends witnessed elsewhere. Surging cases in Maharashtra and four other states in the last few days are an indication of the forethought of scientists and health experts, and on top of it the perils of complacency. These five states should serve as a warning for others. The contemporary pandemic must not be considered over till it actually is. There continues to be need for strict adherence to the scientifically guided covid-19 precautions as well as building more trust in the vaccine.

Don’t pay heed towards rumours, take COVID-19 jab: Experts to people

Anchor stories

Afaq Bhat

23/02/2021

Don’t pay heed towards rumours, take COVID-19 jab: Experts to people

Srinagar: Amid the fear of COVID-19 second wave may be arriving, the Jammu and Kashmir administration is gearing up to start the vaccination drive for the common people in the first week of March.

A doctor while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “Initially when the vaccination drive commenced for health workers and other groups, some people were reluctant to take the jabs but most of them realized that getting vaccinated is the only way out.”

At present vaccinations are being given to the frontline COVID-19 workers but from next month onwards the government is planning to expand the ambit of the drive. “The reports of the second wave hitting some states across the country are disturbing. The only way to protect ourselves is to get a jab. There are reports that the new COVID variants may escape the vaccine but if a person has got himself vaccinated, he may get infected but the virus may not turn deadly,” the expert added.

Chief of All India Institution of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Dr Randeep Guleria recently stated that developing herd immunity for the COVID-19 is a “myth” in India because at least 80 per cent people need to have antibodies for the whole of the population to be protected. “It will be difficult if one takes into account the new Indian strains found in Maharashtra — which could be highly transmissible and dangerous. The new variant can even cause re-infections in people who have developed anti-bodies to the virus,” he added.

A medico said, “The Jammu and Kashmir administration deciding to go for a mass vaccination campaign is a good step. It can help the people in long run. The common people should not pay any heed towards the rumours that are being spread about the side effects of vaccines. The doctors have led from the front and have got themselves vaccinated without any fear. Had there been any side effects these would have been visible by now.”

He said, “The possibility about the second COVID-19 wave is no myth it can come anytime and the reports indicate that it could be more deadly than the first wave.”

It’s in place to mention here that besides Maharashtra, four more states — Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Punjab — have been witnessing a spike in numbers and experts believe that numbers are rising due to the second wave of the COVID-19 reaching these places.

“At present J&K is not reporting many COVID-19 cases on daily basis but the administration is gearing up as it may to have once again isolate the travelers and the people who may get infected,” said an observer.

From significant player, Congress pushed to margins of JK politics

Anchor stories

Ibni Maqbool

23/02/2021

From significant player, Congress pushed to margins of JK politics

Srinagar: The Congress was a partner in Jammu and Kashmir’s ruling coalitions for 12 years in past two decades. But it is slowly being pushed to the margins of J&K’s politics as it failed to get a single post of the chairperson in the District Development Council (DDC) elections, which was the first major electoral exercise in J&K after the Centre read down Article 370 and reorganised the erstwhile state into two Union Territories.

In the elections held for DDC chairpersons earlier this month, the Congress did not field its candidate anywhere for the post of chairperson due to lack of numbers, but it managed to get its nominees elected as vice-chairpersons in Rajouri and Kishtwar districts with the support of National Conference and independents.

The performance of Congress was not even at par with Peoples Conference and Communist Party of India (Marxist), which have never won more than two seats in J&K polls. The PC and CPI (M) respectively won DDC chairperson polls in Kupwara and Kulgam districts. PC-backed independent candidate Safeena Baig heads DDC Baramulla, giving the party control of two DDCs in the politically-significant north Kashmir.

The performance of Congress in the DDC polls raises questions on its leadership, as it has remained in power for 12 years here since 2002.

The party was part of the state government from 2002 to 2008 both as junior and senior partner when Mufti Muhammad Sayeed (2002-2005) and Ghulam Nabi Azad (2005-2008) helmed J&K.

From 2009 to 2014, Congress was part of power-sharing with National Conference when Omar Abdullah was Chief Minister of the erstwhile state.

Its downfall started from 2014 Assembly polls when its managed to get only 12 seats against 17 seats in 2008 and 20 seats in 2002.

The party was relegated to 5th position in the DDC polls held in November- December last year as it managed to get only 26 seats.

In the polls, BJP secured 75 seats, followed by National Conference (67 seats), Independents (50), Peoples Democratic Party (27), Apni Party( 12) and Peoples Conference(8).

According to observers, the Congress party is losing ground in Jammu & Kashmir due to leadership vacuum.

“The party is on the verge of being politically extinct due to absence of any charismatic leader like Ghulam Nabi Azad,” they said, adding that absence of a coherent campaign was the key reason for its debacle in the DDC polls.

According to the observers, the biggest worry for the party is that it is losing ground in mainland Jammu.

“The biggest worry for the party is that it doesn’t have any influential leader who can take on BJP in mainland Jammu. It couldn’t reap dividends of anti-incumbency in Jammu mainland against BJP which faced public ire over the restrictions on internet. The party needs to introspect over its failures before the Assembly polls,” they said.

Repeated attempts to get version of PCC President Ghulam Ahmad Mir proved futile as he did not pick up calls from this reporter.

It is worthwhile to mention that three Congress MLAs in last Assembly deserted the party after abrogation of Article 370.

Usman Majid (former minister), Aijaz Ahmad Khan (former minister) and Mumtaz Khan (ex-ML) quit the party to join Apni Party.

Politicians who want early Assembly polls must cooperate with Delimitation Comm: LG Sinha

Front

Precious Kashmir

23/02/2021

Politicians who want early Assembly polls must cooperate with Delimitation Comm: LG Sinha

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday said politicians who are demanding early assembly elections must cooperate with the Delimitation Commission to complete the exercise at the earliest.

“Those who demand early Assembly elections in J&K must cooperate with the Delimitation Commission to complete the process so that Assembly polls are held,” Sinha said in response to a question regarding assembly polls in Jammu.” instead of criticizing the delimitation process, the politicians should help to end the delimitation exercise.

He said after conclusion of Delimitation exercise, the Election Commission of India will assess the situation and accordingly announce the poll dates.

Regarding the growing incidents of militancy in Srinagar, Sinha said, “Only two incidents happened in Srinagar and a module that was involved in the attack on a Dhaba owner was arrested. In the second incident, two unarmed policemen were killed. I condemn such acts.”

The Lt Governor said militancy won’t be allowed to grow at any cost.

Regarding PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s advocacy for dialogue with Pakistan, he said, “India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will take care of such things”. (KNS)

NC MPs should have participated in delimitation meetings: Azad

Front

Precious Kashmir

23/02/2021

Srinagar: Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and senior Congress leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad Monday suggested the participation of National Conference in Delimitation Commission process would have given representation to people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Azad said NC leaders should have participated in the delimitation meeting. “However, they choose to boycott it and it is not a good thing”.

He said the National Conference has a majority as they have three parliament members and all of them were appointed as the members of the delimitation commission, which would have made “our case strong”, however, they choose to stay away.

Azad said by participating in the meeting they would have put forth their views and arguments strongly as they have the majority. “However, they choose otherwise. “

“Senior leader like Farooq Abdullah, who is also part of the delimitation commission, would have made our case strong by participating in the meeting. By not participating in the meeting, they gave free space to the BJP. Had they been present there they would have strongly opposed the BJP and put forth their arguments,” he said.

Senior National Conference leader and MP Justice Hasnain Masoodi has said the whole delimitation exercise was “illegal” for them.

“The whole exercise is illegal for us. We cannot make our suggestions there. This exercise is against the constitutional provisions of democracy. Our participation would have amounted to accepting the whole illegal exercise. We have a clear stand that the whole thing is illegal,” he said.

Pertinently, the National Conference leaders Dr Farooq Abdullah, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Hasnain Masoodi – who skipped the meeting that was held on Thursday last week had informed Delimitation Commission chairperson Justice (Retd) Ranjana Prakash Desai in a letter about their inability to be present for the meeting.

The Delimitation Commission for Jammu and Kashmir held its first meeting on Thursday last week to seek suggestion/views on the process of delimitation in respect of the union territory.

The Centre constituted the Delimitation Commission for Jammu and Kashmir on March 6 last year to redraw Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies of the union territory under the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which bifurcated the state into union territories of J&K and Ladakh.

On August 5, 2019, centre scrapped J&K’s special status and bifurcated J&K state into two Union Territories.

Surprise crackdown in Srinagar

Front

Precious Kashmir

23/02/2021

Troops detect, defuse IED at Nowgam

Srinagar: The forces on Monday conducted a surprise crackdown in Srinagar civil lines, where the area was sealed and people were frisked in large numbers.

Official sources said that security forces cordoned off the area between Hari Singh High Street (HSHS), Amira Kadal and Court road in civil lines on Monday evening. “All the people present in the area, including the ones who were onboard vehicles, were frisked and their identification cards were checked before allowing them to move forward,” they said.

Eyewitnesses said people, mostly youth, were asked to stand in a queue from one end of Amira Kadal to another end, bringing back memories of 90s when such crackdowns were a normal routine.

A security official at the spot refused to answer any question about the motive behind holding this operation which was held after recent militant attacks in Srinagar, killing two personnel of Jammu and Kashmir police and injuring a hotel owner.

Meanwhile, a majority tragedy was averted after forces detected and defused a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted on the Pantha Chowk-Baramulla highway in the outskirts of Srinagar on Monday.

A police official said the IED was planted a few hundred meters away from the Nowgam Railway station near a bridge.

The IED was spotted by the Road Opening Party of the CRPF and the police after which Bomb Disposal Squad was called in.

“The IED was fitted in a tin box. It took BDS almost an hour to diffuse the IED,” a police official said.

He said traffic was stopped for nearly an hour on Pantha Chowk-Nowgam road as a precautionary measure.

A security official said that the IED was about 1.5 to 2 Kgs and could have resulted in a huge damage if it wasn’t diffused in time.

A CRPF official said during the morning checking, the RoP found a suspicious object and later checked it after which BDS was called.

“Later it turned out to be an IED,” he said.

“IED was successfully diffused and traffic was restored on the road,” Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said. (Additional inputs from UNI/KNO)

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